Time-check receiver



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. v

G. R. 82; B. W. SHBPARDSON. TIME CHECK RECEIVER.

No. 529,468. Patented Nov. 20, 1-894.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. SHEPARDSON AND BYRON IV. SHEPARDSON, OF KALAMAZOO,

MICHIGAN.

TIME-CHECK RECEIVER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 529,468, dated November20,1894.

Application filed December 20, 1892. Serial No. 455,847. (No model.)

To a, whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, GEORGE E. SHEPARD- SON and BYRON W. SHEPARDSON,citizens of the United States, residing at Kalamazoo, county ofKalamazoo, State of Michigan, have invented a new and usefulTime-Register, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of workmens time registers in whicha clock is employed having conveyors which take the place of the hourand minute hands of the clock, and in which is also employed a series ofcheck-receptacles arranged in a circle around said clock.

A principal object of this invention is to make the delivery of thechecks through the conveyors into the check-receptacles positive andabsolutely without error and delay, by means of peculiary constructedfunnels, at the receiving end of the conveyers, the shape of saidfunnels, which are below described in detail, being such as to cause thechecks to make a quarter turn, so as to roll edgewise into the narrowrectangular passage through said conveyors.

Another object consists in certain improvements in the construction ofthe check-receptacles and their base, making them integral and revolublearound the clock.

Other objects consist of improvements in the support of the clock and inthe construction of the conveyers, all of which is more particularlydescribed and claimed below.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a planview, with parts broken away 5 Fig. 2, a sectional elevation on line2-2, in Fig. 1; Fig. 3, an enlarged perspective of details from Fig. 1,with parts broken away; Fig. 4, a cross section on line 4-4, in Fig. 3,looking from a point at the right; Fig. 5, a vertical section of one ofthe funnels, on line 5-5, in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a cross-section on line6-6, in Fig. 5, looking from a point above; Fig. 7, a cross section online 77 in Fig. 2, enlarged; Fig. 8, an enlarged plan view of a detailfrom Fig. 2; and Fig. 9 shows a perspective View of a check-receptacleand connections, parts being broken away.

Referring to Fig. 2 in the drawings, A is a base upon which the timeregister is supported. An outer case, preferably rounding at the top,which forms a cover to the register proper, is shown at B. At the top ofthis case is a glass, 0, through the center of which is a hole, coveredby a plate, D, through which plate are the openings, 0,, c, for theinsertion of the checks, one larger than the other, as explainedhereinafter.

I The check-receptacles are made by employing two circular walls, oneouter one, as at E, and an inner one, as at F, said walls having a spacebetween them, and the inner one, F, surrounding a circular space aroundthe clock, G. The check-receptacles are partitioned off by walls, e,Figs. 1 and 9, which walls radiate from the inner wall F. The floor orbottom of these check-receptacles is on a downward incline toward theoutside and consists of a lainp-shade-like plate, H, rigidly secured atthe lower edge to the outer wall, E, and at the upper edge to the innerwall, F, and to the lower edges of the partition walls 6. Thus thecheck-receptacles, walls and bottom are all integral, or rigidlyattached. This check-receptacle, as a whole, has rigidly attached withinthe inner circle and at the base thereof and to the wall F, a plate, I,which plate has a central hole through same, through which hole isloosely passed a stud,J, which stud supports the clock, G, said studbeing screw threaded at the top and screwed into a shelf K, whichsupports said clock, Fig. 2. The lower end of this stud, J, is screwthreaded beyond its lower shoulder and is passed through a hole in thetop of the base A, and provided below said top of the base A with a nut,f, which firmly secures the stud in place.

Between the plate I and the upper surface of the base A, are ballbearings, S, preferably four in number, and equi-distant from eachother. These balls'are held equi-distant from each other by a thinplate, L, which has a central hole surrounding the stud J and four holesin which the balls S are located, to keep them spaced as stated, saidplate of course being thinner than the diameter of the balls, so thatthe balls will be in the circular groove in the lower side of the plateI and in the upper side of the top of the base A; all as clearly shownin Figs. 2 and 8. This stud, J, is provided with screw threads on thebody thereof, above its lower shoulder, and onto said threaded portionis screwed a check-nut, Z, for the purpose of controlling the pressureof the check-receptacle upon its ball bearings.

Each one of the check-receptacles has an upwardly sliding door, 4),Figs. 1 and 2, and

the outer stationary case, B, is provided with a door, N, the object ofwhich doors will be explained in the description of the operation.

Thestem of the clock which would ordinarily bear the minute hand has anupward extension or stud, P, attached thereto, the top of which stud isscrewed into a lug of the minute conveyer T, at n. The top of theconveyer T terminates in a check-receiving funnel U, into the top ofwhich funnel U loosely fits the lower end of the check-receiving funnelM. Thus the minute conveyer will move around like the minute hand of aclock, independently of the check-receiving funnel M.

At V is a conveyor called the hour conveyer, because it takes the placeof the hour hand on a clock and is supported to the hour stem of saidclock by a bar, X, as shown in Fig. 2. The upper end of this conveyer Vextends into one side of the check-receiving funnel M, as shown in Fig.2, and there connects with the check-receiving funnel W, which latternamed check-receiving funnel is centrally located in the check-receivingfunnel M; these two funnels being located below the plate D and theopenings a c. Being thus arranged, the hour conveyer passes around likethe hour hand of a clock, independently of the minute conveyer, and ofcourse, in thus traveling around the clock revolves the check-receivingfunnels M 7. These conveyors are inclined and terminate at the lower enda little above the open top of the check receptacles, so that when thetime checks are inserted through the slots a 0 they will be conveyed totheir proper receptacles.

The bar X which supports the hour conveyer V, is provided at a pointover the checkreceptacles with an apex, m, Figs. 2 and 7, the object ofwhich apex is to prevent the time checks from lodging on the bar 00 orbeing interrupted by contact therewith, when the delivery end of theminute conveyor is over said apex. These conveyers are madein skeletonform, for the purpose of lightness and so as to be readily accessible tothe sight. They consist of the grooved or channeled base, t, in whichthe time checks, 0 n, roll down to their destination, and of twoseparated parallel wires, '1' above, said parts 25 and '1 being held intheir proper and relative relations by loops, 1, Figs. 2 and 4, to whichloops they are attached.

I'Ieretofore it has been found very difficult, if not utterlyimpossible, so far as we are aware, to so construct check-receivingfunnels that the time checks, 0 n, will always be delivered edgewise andinto the conveyers in such a manner as not to lodge in thecheck-receiving funnels.

The peculiarcheck-receiving funnels herein illustrated consist of afunnel, W, which may be described in general terms as being internallyheart-shaped on one side, as at 2', and internally spoon-shaped on theopposite side, as at 70, as is clearly illustrated in Figs. 3, 5, and 6.The virtue of this very important feature of the invention rests in thepeculiarities of form as follows: The general shape of the funnels isround, tapering toward the lower end, where it terminates in a flattenedportion which connects with and opens into the receiving end of theconveyer. Thus the interior shape of the flattened portion of thefunnels is rectangular, corresponding to the interior of the conveyors,so that the checks therein will be held upright on their edge. Theinterior of one side of these funnels W U, is concaved, like the insideof a spoon, and converges at the lower end and terminatesin therectangular interior of the flattened portion of the funnels, Figs. 2, 3and 5. The interior of the funnels on the side opposite to the spoonshaped side is convened, said 0011- vexed surface beginning very narrowat the upper end and diverging and enlarging toward the lower end andterminating in the rectangular interior of the flattened portion of thetunnels.

It should be observed that the checks enter the funnels edgewise but atright angles to the narrow interior of the flattened lower portion ofsaid funnels. Hence it is necessary for said checks to make a quarterturn in order to enter the interior of said flattened portion, so as toroll from thence edgewise into the conveyors. The converging concavedspoon shaped interior on one side and the diverging convexed interior onthe opposite side, cause the checks to make this quarter turn or tilt.

It will be observed, as stated, that the upper end of each conveyerterminates in one of these check-receiving funnels, while the upper oneis surrounded by an ordinary funnel, M, which in reality constitutes anupward extension to the check-receiving funnel U.

To obviate any danger of the time checks lodging on that portion of theconvoyer V which is in the check-receiving funnel M (which danger wouldtake place only at the time when the conveyor V was directly beneath theslot a) we have provided said checkreceiving funnel M with a small rodor wire, 0, set shearing, so that the time check which passes throughthe slot, a, into the check-receiving funnel M will strike on said wireand be sheared off into the funnel. This wire, 0', is attached to theside of the check-receiving funnel N and inclines downward and outward,and also inclines laterally, so as to cross over the upper edge of theconveyor V, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Referring to Fig. 1, at 2 is shown a spring catch, having a projectionwhich enters a hole in the outer wall of the conveyer, at 3. This servesas a lock to hold the check receptacles in the same position from thetime of commencing work until the contents of said receptacles areexamined, at the close of work. As here arranged, in use, thecheck-receptacles would be marked on the outer face, representing thehours and subdivisions of hours in. five minute periods, so that byexamining the contents of each tray, the hour and the minute at whichthe workman deposited his cheeks could be ascertained within fiveminutes.

To illustrate, in the operation,we will suppose a workman (who has beenprovided with hour checks and minute checks, varying in size andthickness and bearing numbers or characters toindicate which workman hassaid checks) comes to the shop at seven ocloek and fifteen minutes. Hewill put an hour check in the slot 0, which will be delivered into theseven oclock tray, through the conveyerV, and a minute check into theslot at, which will be delivered into a tray representing the quarterhour, through the minute conv-eyerT. At the close of work thetime-keeperopens the doorN, of the outer case, and disconnects thelatch, 2, from the revoluble receptacle, and then by opening the door 2;of each receptacle, the contents of the receptacle will slide out, owingto the inclination of the bottom of the receptacle, into a tray carriedfor the purpose of receiving said time checks for examination, whichprocess he continues by revolving the receptacles upon their ballbearings, stopping as each receptacle is presented at the door N.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a time-register, the check-conveyers consisting of the channeledbase, the upper separated parallel wires, and the loops attached to saidbase at the lower end and attached to the parallel wires at the upperend; substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of hour and minuteconveyers, check-receiving funnelsterminating the receiving ends of said conveyers, the funnel of theminute-conveyer surrounding the funnel of the hour-conveyer, said funnelof the hour conveyer being provided with a small rod or the likeextending ata downward, outward and laterally oblique angle above thereceiving end of the minute-conveyer, whereby the checks are sheared toone side; substantially as set forth.

3. In a time-register, check-conveyers representing the hour and minutehands of a clock, and a bar supporting the hour conveyer, said bar beingprovided with an apex at a point where the delivery end of the minuteconveyer passes over it during the transit of said conveyers around theclock; substan tially as set forth.

at. In a time-register, a revoluble check-receptacle, comprising as awhole the series of receptacles and inclined base integral therewith;substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of a base support, a clock, an upright stud attachedto said base, a shelf attached to the upper end of the stud andsupporting the clock, the check-receptacle as an integral whole, a platehaving a central hole through which said stud is loosely passed, saidplate having a series of holes equidistant from each other, and balls insaid holes, upon which balls the base is mounted; substantially as setforth.

6. The combination of a suitable base, an outer case having a door, aclock, checkconveyers and tunnels, integrally connectedcheck-receptacles surrounding the clock and revolubly mounted upon saidbase, each individual receptacle being provided with a door 5substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of a suitable base, an outer case having a door, aclock, cheekconveyers and funnels, integrally connectedcheck-receptacles surrounding the clock and revolubly mounted upon saidbase, each individual receptacle being provided with a door, and a catchto lock the revoluble receptacle; substantially as set forth.

8. The combination of a base, an outer case,

a clock, a stud attached to the base, a shelf 5 attached to the upperend of the stud and supporting the clock, the receptacles with inclinedbottoms, all integral with each other and surrounding the clock, a plateat the base of the central circular opening beneath the clock, acheck-nut on the stud above said plate and ball bearings between saidplate and base; substantially as set forth. 1

In testimony to the foregoing we have hereunto subscribed our names inthe presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE R. SI-IEPARDYSON. BYRON w. SHEPARDSON.

